Posted 09/20/2010 - 11:24:56am by MichelleHynes in Encores for Education & Youth

Teacher evaluation is a hot topic these days among policymakers and the public. But how do we know what makes a good teacher? Test scores are often cited as an important measure. After all, the ultimate goal of good teaching is students' success.

A school's overall test scores, though, are affected by a number of factors. In today's Washington Post, a veteran California teacher names a few in this column.

The field of education needs talented people with experience in math and science to launch encore careers in high-need schools. (Take a look at how the EnCorps Teachers Program is enabling this in California.) The National Commission for Teaching and America's Future also argues that schools need veteran teachers to work in new ways, across sectors and disciplines. These efforts will prosper when schools can more clearly define and describe how they will measure teachers' success.

Do you have comments or questions about how approaches to teacher evaluation affect encore careers in education? Share your thoughts here!

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